The Ability Advantage: Hiring Differently with Ron Fish - Episode 53 – Crazy People Podcast

Welcome back to another unforgettable episode of the Crazy People Podcast. In Episode #53, hosts Russ Broomell and Maurice Hofmann dive headfirst into a conversation that will leave you rethinking how we define talent, inclusion, and what it truly means to hire the right person. Their guest this time is Ron Fish—head of Talent Acquisition at software company Ivanti and a full-time advocate for accessibility and disability inclusion in the workplace.

Watch Crazy People Podcast episode #53 here: https://youtu.be/SKSNXC6Zy-4

Ron brings a fresh and deeply personal perspective to the world of hiring. With a background shaped by family experiences and a professional path forged in both global corporations and fast-moving tech firms, he’s on a mission to shift how companies view disability—not as a charitable checkbox, but as a powerful and often overlooked component of real diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. His stories are engaging, honest, and at times hilariously revealing (yes, someone really did show up to an interview in a full cow-print suit).

Throughout the conversation, Ron shares what sparked his obsession with accessibility, how his company discovered their own website was inadvertently excluding applicants with disabilities, and what it means to go from being “knee-deep” in DEI to being “all in.” Russ and Maurice explore everything from the biases hidden in interview processes to the surprising superpowers of Starbucks baristas, and the sobering truth that many DEI programs still fail to account for disability altogether.

They also cover the growing use—and misuse—of AI in hiring, what it’s like to build programs that don't require budgets but demand intention, and how hiring junior talent can open the door to entirely new ways of thinking. Ron’s passion is infectious, and his message is clear: if we truly want to build inclusive, innovative workplaces, we need to stop hiring people who look and think like us—and start recognizing the unique value that different perspectives bring to the table.

With humor, warmth, and a killer dad joke to close things out, this episode is a heartfelt reminder that being different isn’t a limitation—it’s an asset. And as always, Russ and Maurice keep it real, curious, and just crazy enough to make you want to hear more.

So tune in, share it with your hiring manager, and remember: the food on the moon may be great, but there’s no atmosphere—just like a workplace without true inclusion.

Don’t forget to follow along using hashtags like #CrazyPeoplePodcast, #DisabilityInclusion, #InclusiveHiring, #DEIwithPurpose, #RonFishTalks, #NeurodiversityAtWork, #AccessibleWorkplace, #IvantiInclusion, #CrazyGoodGuests, and #StayCrazy. #DEI #RussBroomell #MauriceHofmann